In many societies, corporal punishment is a controversial topic. Some believe it is an appropriate form of discipline, but human rights activists argue that it causes harm to kids and leads to abuse. Our teen reporter in Ghana, Chelsea Boakye, spoke with her peers on the topic. They suggested different types of punishments they believe would be more appropriate for them and other schoolchildren.
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00:00 I think we should not be caned but rather seal the compound and scrap the toilet facilities.
00:09 Caning us makes us harden and no longer afraid of caning.
00:14 For us kids, going to school is a big deal.
00:17 However, sometimes the experience can be painful and frustrating,
00:22 especially when teachers get physical to discipline us.
00:26 My name is Chelsea Inakra.
00:28 Let's meet Mr. Isaac Akwa, a high school teacher in Ghana's central region.
00:33 Why do some teachers prefer caning students as a form of punishment?
00:37 Amongst all the other forms of punishment, I would prefer caning
00:43 because it provides some kind of instant corrective measure.
00:48 So at the end of the day, I think that it's the quickest way to punish the student and also get a result.
00:54 That seems to mean that the rest will learn from it.
00:57 So is this something that you have done before?
00:59 Yes, I have done something like that before because it provides an instant way of correcting the child.
01:06 So is there any legal protection for students who are being caned and in the course get injured?
01:11 The government has stated it clearly that if any teacher should go contrary to that rule
01:19 or even if the person decides to take his own path and do it
01:23 and he actually ends up injuring a child, he will be taken on by the law and he will be dealt with.
01:31 Which among you has experienced proper punishment before?
01:37 I failed to do my assignment and I was caned by a teacher, mercilessly.
01:42 I fought with my friend who was severely caned in front of our police.
01:46 And how I fought was like, I fought embarrassingly, so I fought like the teacher hit me a lot.
01:51 I came to school late and I was punished by the teacher.
01:54 The teacher gave me five strikes of canes in my palm and I was very sad. I cried for the whole day.
02:00 So do you think being beaten in school changed you in any way?
02:04 I don't think so because I think it was just to inflict pain and fear in me, that's what I think.
02:10 At first I was lazy and now I feel like I have to do my homework on time and submit it to avoid my teacher from caning me.
02:18 So what do you believe is the best way to punish some of us who are indisciplined?
02:23 Those who are indisciplined must punish them by reading the bushy areas, scrubbing the bathroom and sleeping in the classroom alone for two weeks.
02:32 I think there should be no punishment for us. For it to correct us, it should teach us advice as to what we should do and what we should not do. And I think that will help us.
02:40 The use of proper punishment is a very controversial issue in Ghana.
02:45 Some parents and teachers see nothing wrong with it. But there are parents like Awu Aydem Amenia who are against it.
02:52 Why are you against proper punishment in all forms, be it in school or at home?
02:57 Proper punishment application is very abrupt. So you want to do something instantly and get the result instantly.
03:08 But it doesn't reform the character of the child. It is important to make children understand the offence they have committed and why it is necessary for them to be corrected.
03:21 Since you are against proper punishment, what other forms of punishment do you think is best to give to children who are disobedient?
03:32 Maybe time out. When you face a corner for 30 minutes to one hour and other fun things are going on.
03:42 Whatever the child prioritizes, whatever the child enjoys, you withhold that from the child.
03:50 Even cell phones, when you take it from children, from playing their game, they will sit up and start behaving in form.
04:02 If you keep spanking them, chances are that it is just sex lashes that I will receive. And in the end, we are producing hardened criminals.
04:13 It is obvious we kids dislike proper punishment. But we accept that we need to be disciplined to become responsible adults.
04:22 Maybe talking to us more about our wrongs so we develop good attitudes could be a better approach.
04:29 I am Chelsea in Accra. Thanks for watching Girls of Needs.
04:33 [Music]